Boston’s Brandon Workman appeals six-game suspension

NEW YORK — Boston pitcher Brandon Workman appealed a six-game suspension imposed by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for throwing near the head of Tampa Bay star Evan Longoria last week.

Workman can play until the appeal process is complete, and was expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday night against the Cleveland Indians.

Red Sox first baseman Mike Carp was hit on the arm Friday by a fourth-inning pitch from Tampa Bay ace David Price, who also plunked slugger David Ortiz on the hip in the first inning — triggering umpires to issue warnings to both teams.

The fact Workman was disciplined and Price wasn’t did not sit well with the Red Sox and Ortiz in particular, who again criticized the Rays ace before Tuesday’s game against the Indians.

“I don’t think what they’re doing is fair,” Ortiz said. “I think the rules should be for everybody. We didn’t start this up. I didn’t hit nobody. Workman didn’t hit anybody in the first inning. He did.”

Ortiz was critical of Price following that game and didn’t back down from those comments Tuesday when news of Workman’s suspension reached Boston’s clubhouse.

“I’m not going to get hit again,” Ortiz said. “Not by him. He did it on purpose. He punked me and that’s very disrespectful. I’m a grown man. I’ve been around the league for a long time and I know how to take care of business on my own.”

Note

• Rays right fielder Wil Myers is expected to be sidelined for more than six weeks because of a stress fracture in his right wrist.